Category — Technology

I just took an awesome shot. Focusing was the key

We all know that computers are powerful tools for multi-tasking.

But that same flexibility makes it all too easy to get distracted from your core tasks.If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably gotten carried away with checking on Twitter and e-mail or looking at funny videos about cats at a time when you intended to write a paper or crunch some numbers on a spreadsheet.

That’s because our computer screens by default are just begging for our attention, what with status icons, pop-up messages, and the ability to check into a site like Reddit.com just by typing “r” into a web browser bar.

I’m going to present some handy cheap and free apps that can eliminate distractions from your workflow.

Isolator and Dropcloth

If you own a Mac laptop or desktop, Isolator will provide a badly needed element of quietude. Isolator works by darkening everything on your screen except the window you have active. You can choose just how dark you want your screen to go, and you’ll find yourself more focused and less inclined to absentmindedly stray from the task you’re working on. Dropcloth provides similar functionality for Windows.

WriteRoom and Darkroom

WriteRoom (Mac) and DarkRoom (Windows) are among a handful of minimalist text apps that have emerged in recent years as a response to the visual clutter and formatting nightmares of Microsoft Word.

Once you start a new document, all you will see is a black screen with a green blinking cursor, like with computers of old days. No mulch-colored buttons. No menus. No auto-formatting. Just you and the words.

Writers love penning first drafts in these programs, which offer focus and clarity that’s just not possible with more sophisticated word processors.

Mindful Browsing, LeechBlock, and StayFocused

I don’t know about you, but I find myself often checking into distracting websites almost without thinking about it.

I use Apple’s Safari browser, which shows a pretty panel of my most visited website homepages. It’s easy to click on those. Or to start typing the name of a favorite website, and have the browser auto-fill it. So to stop my almost instinctive visits to distracting websites,

I’ve installed the excellent Safari plugin “Mindful Browsing.” You can set it to completely block distracting websites, or to only allow access to them after you’ve clicked through a gateway screen. (This way you can still check Facebook if you need a genuine break or are using it for work.) Also check out LeechBlock for Firefox and StayFocused for Google Chrome.

Wunderlist

An excellent task manager not only helps you remember important things you need to do, it can also keep you more focused.

When you’ve broken down your day into a series of concrete actions you must take, you’ll find yourself being more productive. It’s simply easier to start a game of Angry Birds when you don’t know what you need to accomplish. It’s much harder when you see “Finish report for Mr. Davis” staring you in the face.

I recommend Wunderlist due to its availability on smartphones and through its website.

About author: Ashlee McCullen is a staff writer for ApronAddicts.com, a site about fashionable aprons and kitchen style.

Minimalism and ipad go hand in hand

Confusing? In fact the definition of minimalism and simple living itself has various versions. And what an iPad got to do with minimalist living and simple lifestyle?

Mind you, this article is neither a review, nor about sharing the excitement that I am feeling currently by owning this new device, iPad. Rather,this post is about how a gadget can actually help you to organize your life and free you from your involvement in various scattered devices. This post is how a non-minimalist and super cool gadget, if used  in right way can amazingly simplify your life .

Why did I buy iPad when I already had a laptop and that too at a stage of life where i am limiting my expenses and releasing myself from burden of unwanted things which I never used?

That’s exactly the story which I am going to share with you in this article.

Buying an iPad was never a spontaneous decision.And I am not one of those who are ‘upgrade’ hungry. I am not addicted to latest versions. I am not bothered to upgrade and I don’t need a latest version just because it is cool to have one.

Here comes the real reason behind my purchase of iPad. Since long time, I wanted to centralize and digitize all the aspects of my life. In fact , some years ago I even tried creating an application of my own in Visual Basic (mind you, I am a mulch-lingual computer programmer). I had named that application as Digital Life (I know it’s really a cool name). Unfortunately, I couldn’t really take that application further.

When I meant digitize my life ,I wanted to do things like below list

• Centralize all my various passwords at one place
• Keep record of my bank accounts
• Keep records of my assets and liabilities
• Keep records of my finances (investments and deposits)
• Digitize my professional records (This is no more required as LinkedIn works fine for me)
• Scan all my important documents and keep them in a central place. Believe me, I have tough time in finding important documents when they are really required (This is a new requirement)
• Keep record of important stuff like technical stuff and notes. I often write notes on a paper notepad and they get lost somewhere and not easily retrievable
• Capture instant ideas and store them for later viewing an actions. This one is big for me because, ideas are like bubbles on water. You need to capture them immediately and record them. You might not even remember what was this idea if you don’t document it somewhere. Papers are again bad in storing and retrieving information
• Read/write blog posts while i am on the move (This is a new requirement and believe me, a phone/ laptop didn’t meet this purpose)

Some of the requirements are my recent plans such as scanning and blogging were not in my original list when I was creating that app.

Enter the world of tablets and with iPad, I can say that most of the above requirements are met (I already found the suitable apps for my requirements and setting up things further).  I am writing this post from my iPad and is am typing faster than I type on my laptop, which is great stuff. I am using the app keeper for password management. Evernote for writing my blog posts. I use Flip board app for checking tweets and news related to blogging and technology. DocScan HD for scanning document and converting into PDF. I might use AudioMemos or Garageband for creating some audio files if I decide to do podcasts in future.

Other useful apps that I didn’t expect they even exist. They are Analytics for iPad, iSense and Mail chimp stats.

iBook and Kindle for iPad are great as well.

So far things have been great with iPad.

I am amused by the quality that Apple produces.

Price is a relative term. But creating a wonderful user experience is result of constant efforts towards innovation and research. Apple surely has put its heart in producing some of the finest products and iPad not an exception for that. I don’t think apple products are over priced. It’s only that their prices are over hyped.

Minimalism and iPad go hand in hand

Really.

Because iPad eliminates the need of multiple gadgets such as a laptop and desktop. It speeds up your productivity by offering rich apps. It makes typing a fun affair.

Only flip side to it is it can get you addicted if you chose to. And I don’t. Because as I said earlier, I am turning into a minimalist.

For me, minimalism is not stopping buying gadgets or things, it is reversing the habit of buying things which you don’t actually need. An iPad, in my experience so far, will help my life to become more organized and more manageable.

An iPad can manage your life digitally and it can be fun.

Over to you

What you feel about buying an iPad can simplify your life? Do you have an iPad and how are you using it primarily? I am eager to know

Reading books is my favorite hobby since childhood. I have been collecting hundreds of books and my mini library in home ever expanding. Books are kept in dedicated glass shelf and are well organized.

Off late, I have been traveling more often compared to earlier days and I get a comfortable reading opportunity during the journey which I never lose. I carry couple of paper books with me and usually finish reading at least two books during the journey.

I was hearing and reading much about Amazon Kindle and then I was also thinking it would be great gadget for me especially while traveling but was reluctant about buying it due to 2 reasons. First I have not actually seen any E reading device and wanted to know about the actual reading experience and second was I was not sure about shipping charges since I live outside of United States.

It was the Book Exhibition which happened in my city that actually converted my curiosity about Kindle into need. Thousands of books were displayed and kept for sale in the exhibition. I visited and enjoyed the event and bought several new books  (this time,  related to Yoga). What caught my attention in the exhibition was, even E Book readers were displayed as well. I went to the stall and asked the stall person to demo the reading device for me. He did it promptly. E Book reader (it was not Kindle) was pretty good and I felt it is indeed worth a try. I took his number and left to home.

One thing, flashed to my mind, if I buying an E Book reader, why not buy the best one? I have been reading about kindle so much and I am also convinced about the reading comfort now since I got an opportunity to touch and feel the E Reading device. I placed the order immediately and Kindle arrived to my home yesterday. Let me share my experience about the first look of Kindle and a small review of the device.

Looks
Kindle looks pretty cool. It’s slim, stylish and elegant.

Display
This is the best part. Kindle sports E – Ink Display. Unlike LCD display screens, Kindle screen is pleasant to eyes and looks like actual paper. Words are crisp, clear and with numerous adjustment settings, reading is more comfortable. I can save bookmark, write notes.

Battery Life
Here is another winning feature of Kindle. Since Kindle doesn’t have a LCD screen, its battery life is said to be pretty long lasting. I have read on internet that it lasts for one month with WiFi turned off and one just reads on Kindle. I am sure it will.

USB Support and WiFi
It has USB support and one can transfer files from computer to kindle. It also has WiFi support. Books can be downloaded from Amazon when connected in a Wifi network.

Text To Speech
Kindle can speak as well it reads the highlighted words for me. Though I don’t use this feature much but I feel it’s a good add-on and may come handy in some situations.

Kindle can sing
It supports MP3 as well. So music can be played through Kindle.

It has been just 2 days since I bought the Kindle and this amazing device already won my heart and it has all the potential to replace my paper books. With massive storage capacity of 3500 books, and offering me new way of reading, I can say that Kindle is my new companion.

Pretty cool stuff from Amazon.

WordWeb is a free English thesaurus dictionary and simplifies the process of searching meaning of a word.

You need to download it from its website http://wordweb.info/free/ and install in your computer. WordWeb is simple to use and what you need to do is just ctrl+right click on any word for which you want to know the meaning.

WordWeb displays the meaning for you in a small pop up box. This integration of thesaurus with local application makes WordWeb a winner.

Try this useful application.

Passwords? Aah, they are tens of them. Nope there are actually hundreds of them. We all have several online accounts and passwords including forums logins, emails , home banking and so on. How do you manage your all these passwords? Is there a secure way of storing these username/passwords?

Answer is here. Check Keepass

Keepass is a free, open source desktop password management tool. Its completely secure, easy to use and you can manage all your passwords efficiently.

Password Management

As you can see in above screenshot, you can create your own groups and keep your username and passwords.

Keepass needs to be downloaded and installed in your machine. It is a desktop application which opens when you issue the master password for the application. So only password you need to remember now onwards is the master password of keepass

Keepass comes in 2 versions. Either you can install in your computer or you can use the portable version as well so that you can carry it in a pen drive or a disk when you are on the move.

So give it a try and end your password management worries

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